Zonda - Resource Library

Design and construction industries are vulnerable to natural disasters and manmade hazards that can result in everything from reducing the lifespan of infrastructure to loss of life and property. Professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) can mitigate these vulnerabilities by having a fuller understanding of resilience as well as the building materials and construction and operational techniques that lead to stronger, more durable buildings.

This course will examine resilience in the built environment and provide several strategies to achieve resilience at the building scale for stakeholders. It will then assess continuous insulation, particularly mineral wool, as it relates to resilient design before reviewing ASTM resilience testing standards. Finally, this course will help learners evaluate resilience in current code and beyond as well as how to enhance structural systems through the use of mineral wool insulation.

Webinar On-Demand: This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. When structural stability and thermal continuity collide, structure has historically taken precedence necessitating tradeoffs such as increased insulation in other areas or acceptance of energy loss and potential moisture damage. The foundation transition from below grade to masonry ledge to masonry veneer wall is one such challenge. What if there was a solution? This presentation explores solutions for perimeter foundation insulation including information needed to specify and install correctly.

The intent of this article is to explain how Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) compares to Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC), Fiber Cement and Precast Concrete (from a material performance and façade perspective) and provide architects with a clear set of essential tools that will help to facilitate optimal design and installation of UHPC rainscreen facades. Subsequently, the article will also discuss which drivers may shift the expense of a UHPC façade project and explain how to achieve the best installed appearance and performance characteristics through the use of recommended specifications and attachment solutions.

Webinar On-Demand: This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. In the fight against climate change, efforts intensify against the planet’s number one enemy—carbon dioxide. The building industry will play a significant role in these efforts. Embodied carbon—the global greenhouse gas emissions generated from sourcing raw material and processing, manufacturing, transporting, and installing building materials—will be the target over the next decade. This course will define embodied carbon, its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, the construction industry's impact, and the methods and tools that building designers can employ to limit embodied carbon.

Mitigating the intrusion of water and air through a structure is a primary concern for designers and contractors. By assessing the differences between traditional air- and water-resistive barriers and comparing them to newer technologies, specifiers can better avoid issues that lead to moisture concerns. Being aware of challenges to jobsite conditions and installation will further enable specifiers to choose the best weather-resistant barrier solution for their project’s building type.

This course will address main characteristics and design details of insulated roof deck systems, an alternative to metal decking for low-slope roofs on commercial and industrial buildings. Two case studies involving the new construction of a 53,000-square-foot freezer facility and a roof replacement on a 24,900-square-foot climate-controlled facility will be explored in detail. Learners will better understand design considerations for specific commercial/industrial roof projects and practical applications of insulated roof deck systems, including installation efficiency, safety, sustainability, and building performance.

A new, all-in-one insulated roof deck system is revolutionizing the commercial roofing industry. Providing superior benefits to traditional roofing materials, new insulated roof deck panels are suitable for almost any application. This course will compare the innovative new solution to traditional low-slope roofing methods; explain its features and benefits, and how the diaphragm design is part of a building’s structural integrity; and explore design and installation considerations for a successful project.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Architects, Specifiers, Interior Designers, and Building Science professionals all have a long history of specifying stone wool for their insulation and sound absorption needs. Fire resistance, sound resistance, water resistance, thermal resistance and dimensional stability are all features and benefits of stone wool. This presentation will provide learners with information regarding the features and benefits of using stone wool acoustical ceiling tiles. In addition, the course will provide basic information on acoustics as well as the acoustical challenges and resolutions faced in commercial buildings.

Today, more than half of us live in cities, and by 2050, this proportion is expected to increase to 67%. As urbanization becomes a global trend, the struggle to efficiently and sustainably grow our cities will only intensify. More people need more buildings, more energy, and more infrastructure, and this puts increased pressure on resources and the environment.

The challenges we face can seem daunting, but the good news is that raw material suppliers, building material manufacturers, architects, and engineers are creating innovative solutions that can help the building industry rise to meet these challenges in order to build the sustainable and resilient cities of the future.

This course will explore what the future of urbanization could look like through the lens of energy reduction, power supply, and efficient construction. We will examine innovative materials and technologies that will help cities, and their citizens, thrive as we make our way through the 21st century.

The University of North Dakota’s Wilkerson Commons, set to reopen this year, incorporates a terra cotta rain screen system integrated with a Hunter Xci Polyiso-based continuous insulation solution. Learn more about the university’s $29 million renovation.